Kalanchoe plant named ‘Abalpha’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Abalpha’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and uniform plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early, uniform and freely flowering habit; dark red-colored flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Abalpha’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Abalpha’.

The new Kalanchoe plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel and Middelburg, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching and compact Kalanchoe cultivars with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in October, 2005, of a proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 204105-03, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 203009, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Middelburg, The Netherlands in August, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands since August, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Abalpha’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Abalpha’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and uniform plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early, uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Dark red-colored flowers.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Kalanchoe have darker red-colored flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can also be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have red purple-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger leaves than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Illoide’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Illoide’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were larger than plants of         ‘Illoide’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Illoide’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had darker red-colored flowers         than ‘Illoide’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Kalanchoe had ovate-shaped         petals whereas plants of ‘Illoide’ had elliptic-shaped petals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Abalpha’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse during the spring and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Kalanchoe production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levels averaged 500 watts per square meter. Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck in containers and received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about four weeks; plants then received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were four months from planting when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Abalpha’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana identified as code number 204105-03, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana identified as code number 203009, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Upright, outwardly spreading and uniform plant             habit; rounded crown.         -   Growth habit.—Vigorous; rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 23 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 26 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; about eight lateral             branches develop per plant. Pinching (removal of the             terminal apex) is typically not required but will enhance             lateral branch development. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 18 cm to 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 9 cm to 10 cm.         -   Width.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Between 146B and             137C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single flowers arranged in             compound axillary cymes. Uniform and freely flowering habit             with usually about 60 to 80 flowers developing per lateral             stem.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower             naturally in the fall. Flower initiation and development can             also be induced under artificial short day/long conditions             (at least 14 hours of darkness) year-round in a greenhouse             environment.         -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive             conditions, about eight weeks are required. Actual time to             flower is dependent upon temperature and light intensity.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about five weeks under interior environmental             conditions; flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elliptical. Length: About 8 mm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Color: Close to 179B to 179C.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: About four in a single whorl fused at             the base. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 5 mm. Aspect:             Upright to eventually perpendicular to the pedicel. Shape:             Ovate. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 45B. When opening, lower surface: Between             179D and 180C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 53B;             color becoming closer to 60A with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 51B to 51D.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four fused at the base. Length: About             6 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A. Color, mature, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Aspect: Mostly erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Aspect: Erect to about 90° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight             per flower. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: Close to 28C. Amount of pollen: Abundant.             Pollen color: Close to 6C. Gynoecium: Pistil number: About             four per flower. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Style length:             About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Round.             Stigma color: Close to 145C. Ovary color: Close to 143C.         -   Seeds.—Quantity per flower: Abundant. Length: Less than             1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Color: Close to 200A. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 17° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Kalanchoes. 

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Abalpha’ as illustrated and described. 